Automatic progressive die for stud, bolt, and screw blanks



Oct. 4-, 1938. Q c. c. RICHARD 2,132,244

. AUTOMATIC PROGRESSIVE DIEIOR STUD, BOLT, AND SCREW BLANKS Filed Feb. 18, 1935 12 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY Oct. 4, 1938. c. c. RICHARD 2,132,244

AUTOMATIC PROGRESSIVE DIE FOR STUD, BOLT, AND SCREW BLANKS Filed Feb. .18, 1935 12 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Clemeni C. Fz'ci/ard ATTORNEY Oct. 4, 1938. c. c. RICHARD 2,132,244

AUTOMATIC PROGRESSIVE DIE FOR STUD, BOLT, AND SCREW BLANKS Filed Feb. 18, 1935 12 Sheets-$heet 3 INVENTOR C'Ze men??- C. Rickard ATTORNEY Oct. 4, 1938. c. c. RICHARD AUTOMATIC PROGRESSIVE DIE FOR STUD, BOLT, AND SCREW BLANKS Filed Feb. 18, 1935 12 Sheets-Sheet 4 I aw INVENTOR Clewezva 6. Fiaaraf Z ATTORNEY Oct. 4, 1938.

c. c. RICHARD 2,132,244

AUTOMATIC PROGRESSIVE DIE FOR STUD, BOLT, ANDSGREW BLANKS 12 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 18, 1955 ATTORNEY INVENTOR Cla ea. i 6. 7750941 4? Oct. 4, 1938. c. c. RICHARD 2,132,244

AUTOMATICPROGRESSIVE DIE FOR STUD, BOLT, AND SCREW BLANKS Filed Feb. (18, 1955 12 Sheets-Sheet s l l I I l I I I l l l I I INVENTOR Cjlemeni Cf 756%42121 ATTORNEY Oct. 4, 1938. c. c. RICHARD 2,132,244

AUTOMATIC PROGRESSIVE DIE FOR STUD, BOLT, AND SCREW BLANKS Filed Feb. l8,' 1935 12 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR Cleaver/2? 6. Zia/Para? ATTORNEY Oct. 4, 1938. R|HARD 2,132,244

AUTOMATIC PROGRESSIVE DIE FOR STUD, BOLT, AND SCREW BLANKS Filed Feb. 18, 1935 12 Sheets-Sheet 8 1% J 9'2 as 64 Q\ \i my! 1-}! (I w I I M w" INVENTOR CZc'me/rZ C. Rickard x v 2% ATTORNEY I Oct. 4, 1938. c. c. RICHARD 2,132,244

AUTOMATIC PROGRESSIVE DIE FOR STUD, BOLT, AND SCREW BLANKS Filed Feb. 18, 1935 12 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTOR E l 6762716222? C Fidfidrd ATTORNEY Oct. 4,1938.

AUTOMATIC PROGRESSIVE DIE FOR STUD, BOLT, AND SCREW BLANKS.

C. C. RICHARD Filed Feb. 18, 1935 12 Sheets-Sheet 1O Oct. 4, 1938. Q C 2,132,244

AUTOMATIC PROGRESSIVE DIE FOR STUD, BOLT, AND SCREW BLANKS Filed Feb. 18, 1935 l2 Sheets-Shet ll INVENTOR E- Mfla ATTORNEY Oct. 4, 1938. c Q mc 2,132,244

SIVE DIE F0 Filed Feb. 18, 1935 12 Sheets-Sheet 12 INVENT (Yemen? 6. 75214242" EM 2k A TTORNE Y.

Patented Oct. 4, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,132,244 AUTOMATIC rnoeasssrvn' ms FOR s'rUn.

BOLT, AND SCREW BLANKS Clement C. Richard, Bloomfield Hills, Micln, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Allied Products Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Michigan This invention relates to an automatic progressive die structure for producing screw blanks, bolts, studs and other articles of similar nature and the method of formation of such parts.

5 Heretofore, in the art of making screw blanks, bolts, studs and the like, it has been the practice to build a complete powered machine for the single purpose. This invention seeks to provide a structure for the making of such parts (except threading where threading is required) that can be mounted as a unit in an ordinary punch press in which there is a connection between the parts forming my improved mechanism with the header or ram of the press for operating the mechanism 35 to pass the blank being operated on from one step of its formation to a succeeding step automatically. By such structure it is possible in a single automatic device to eliminate much of the handling between operations. Thus the time element is re- 20 duced as well as reducing the space required for the machinery and the cost of production in comparison with the commonly used single purpose machines. By simply removing my progressive die unit, the punch press may be used for its usual 25 work and thus the driving mechanism and space occupied by the press may be kept in service when not required for use with my progressive dieunit. It has also been necessary in the previous mechanism and method of forming such blanks to oil the 30 same. This results in the cuttings adhering to the blank which tends to clog the operating parts and such oiled blanks required to be thoroughly washed prior to the threading operation. It is one of the objects of my invention to provide a 35 machine for the formation of the blanks in a dry state.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an automatic progressive die for performance of various necessary operations required in the for- 40 mation of a blank and that will form a number of blanks at one time, the machine shown in the accompanying drawings being designed to form three screw blanks or other parts ready for the threading operation with each stroke of the press.

45 It is also an object of this invention to provide an automatic progressive die in which screw blanksor the like may be formedfrom the usual hot rolled rods furnished by the steel mills and avoiding necessity of having rods drawn to cer- 50 tain specific finished diameter as is required in the 'usual single purpose machines. It is also an object and feature of this invention to so devise the operative parts and the character of operation at each step or station that the time required for 55 the operation at any one station is practically identical with that required at any other station. By thus devising the parts and the work to be performed at each station, a completely finished blank ready for threading is produced in each series of dies at each stroke of the press.

It is also a feature of my invention to provide a structurein whichthe dies and punches forming a part of the machine will be compactly arranged and adapted for mounting in a suitable press and avoiding the necessity of a specially designed single purpose machine heretofore used for this purpose, the only requirement being that the press shall be of a capacity sufficient to furnish the power to perform the forming operations hereinafter described.

These and various other objects and features of the invention are hereinafter more fully described and-claimed, and the preferred construction of a machine embodying my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which- Fig. 1 is an elevation showing my improved progressive die unit of the character stated mounted in operative relation in a press.

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 together in side by side relation as numbered represent a plan view of my improved progressive die structure.

Fig. 5 is'a front end elevation of the machine into which the material to be operated on is fed.

Fig. 6 is a rear end elevation of the machine at which end the completed product isdelivered.

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are vertical sections on the line :c-a: of Figs. 2, 3 and 4 and specifically- Fig. 7 is a vertical section of the front end of the machine showing the mechanism associated with and operated by movement of the header or ram of the press for progressively feeding the material through my automatic die mechanism.

Fig. 8 is a. vertical section through the forward end of the progressive die unit.

. Fig. 9 is avertical section through the delivery end of the machine.

Fig. 10 is a vertical section taken on line 1-11 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 11 is a vertical section taken on line :i:-a: of Fig. 4 showing the article handling device at one of the stations.

Fig. 12 is a detail plan view of the article transferring mechanism in the position atthe bottom of the down stroke of the press.

Fig. 13 is a similar view showing the position of the automatic handling arms at the top of the upstroke of the press.

Fig. 14 is a similar view showing a different position of the parts.

Figs. 15 and 16 are vertical sections showing dif- 56 vision of mechanism for the successive opera-- ferent positions of the cams utilized in operating the transfer mechanism.

Fig. 17 is a horizontal section taken on line z-z of Fig.9.

Fig. 18 is an elevation of the slug.

Figs. 19 to 24 are elevations of the blank indicating the work performed at the successive stations.

In order that a clear understanding may be had of the function and relationship of the parts of my improved automatic progressive machine, it is well to first consider that the single purpose machines now generally used in the making of such parts as screw blanks, bolts, studs and like devices are usually of a character utilizing sized wire fed fromthe coils cut oil to proper length into slugs and the heading operation accomplished by two hammer blows, the first of which swages an end of the slug to approximately a pear shape and the second blow completing the formation of the head and the headed slug then delivered or conveyed in some manner to an extruding press or trimming machine as may be required for the next operation.

In such former machines where a slight extruding operation is necessary, the blanks are taken to a press for the extruding operation and thence to a trimming machine where the head is trimmed to proper shape, as square, hexagonal or other form as may be desired and the headed and trimmed blanks are usually washed and taken to a threading machine, usually a roll threading machine, and are subsequently heat treated.

In the previous method and mechanism utilized in the formation of such articles as screw blanks and the like, a number of single p rpose machines are usually employed, the articles requiring to be handled in some manner for passing the same from one machine to the other and the speed of one machine may not be that of the preceding or succeeding. machine of the group due to the character of the work being performed by such machine,.-that is, for instance the swaging of the end of the slug requiring two blows requires more time than the extruding press or the trimming machine.

A feature of my invention resides in the protions and the operations are in such order and of such character that a slug in my unitary structure is cut off at one downstroke of the press. The sing on the upstroke of the press is then passed to the first of a series of forming dies wherein the body of the slug is partially shaped. On the next upstroke of the press the partially formed blank at the first forming die is transferred to a second forming die in which the blank is practically finally shaped. It is then passed to a heading and pointing die, a final sizing die; a pointing mechanism for finishing the point which is partially developed in the heading die; and finally is moved to a trimming die for cutting the head to the desired shape.

From the trimming die the finished blanks are delivered to a single purpose roll threading machine (not here shown).

It is thus to beseen and is more fully described hereinafter, that, by the structure herein described, the various steps taken in the formation of a screw blank, bolt, stud or the like by my improved mechanism are so arranged and the mechanisin so devised that alike time period is required in the formation of the blank at each of the stations. It will also be understood that some of the operations heretofore performed in a single purpose machine have been divided into two or more operations at different points in order that the time period for the performance of each specific step shall be the same. By thus arranging the successive steps and changing the time period for the completion of what has usually heretofore been done as a single step in a single purpose machine, I have produced an automatic progressive die structure adapting the same to be used in an ordinary straight side vertical press in which there is a punch set mounted on the ram of the press and meeting with a die set held in exact position on the bed of the press so that upon the downstroke of the ram, once the various stations of the set have been provided with the blanks, a completed blank is made. With a single set of dies and devices required for the formation of the blanks, the press can make eighty blanks per minute at the usual speed of such presses. However, as these dies are comparatively small and the usual straight side vertical press is sufilciently wide in bed and ram, I have arranged three complete sets in a single body or frame in order that three rods may be fed into the machine and three completed blanks change in method, I have been enabled to greatly increase the production of such blanks per unit of time and have attained a further desirable object, viz, a much longer life of the parts. In respect to this latter point, the forming of the body of the blank isnot all performed at a single point or station but is accomplished in two steps. Firstly, because in attempting to secure the completion of form at a single stroke of the .press it is necessary to reduce the amount of work to be accomplished at any one point in respect to previous similar operations in the single purpose machines to the same time as is required forfthe least time consuming step required in the formation of the finished blank. Thus the first and second die sets for instance in my machine not being required to complete the formation of the body in a single die will stand up for a very.

much greater period of time than would be the case if theshaping of the body was performed at a single point or station. Likewise the pointing operation is divided into more than a single step in order that it may be completed in the required time period.' Thus pointing is started at one point in the chain of steps and completed at another and in respect to the pointing operation a materially improved point is secured.

The pointing, which is the chamfer on the small, or lower end of the screw blank, has ordinarily been performed by the heading die having a taper in the hole of the die at the correct angle and length so that after the heading operation is completed the lower end assumes a cup shape and is rough in' appearance. In my machine the pointing is done during the heading. as above described but there is a pointing operation following the final sizing operation utilizing a rotary cutter that trims the cup shaped end of the blank and at the same time takes a skin cut from the chamfered surface which is formed nearly to size by the heading die. Thus the finished blank is smooth and true to the exact particular length and shape required and provides a materially better finished product than has heretofore been made in single purpose machines. Thus the apparatus hereinafter more fully described does not follow the common practice of the usual screw machine devices heretofore in use as the entire operation 'od is performed by an ordinary vertical press whereby a greatly increased capacity is obtained over that of any machine for forming such blanks now in use. Another resultant gain is secured by my new method or mechanism for forming screw blanks and the like andthat. is, that in the previous screw machines the blanksare oiled and thus small particles of metal, chips and the like stick to the blank. This requires a thorough cleaning of the blank before passing to the operations are thus the blanks as discharged from this machine are passed directly to the roll threading machine perfectly clean and the time heretofore required in washing and cleaning and the mechanism for the purpose and space required for such mechanism are entirely eliminated.

In the drawings I have shown the dies set up as a unit comprising three complete sets of dies to each of which a rod is fed. These-rods are all simultaneously cut into a slug for each set of dies and these slugs are all simultaneously passed through the successive stations in like manner and remaining at each station for the same time period.

The foregoing steps of the formation of the blank and the mechanism required is confined to a single set of punches, dies and mechanism required to complete the formation of the blank being \fGIfilGd and while I have heretofore mentioned screw blanks, bolts and studs, this machine is adapted to make practically any of what have heretofore been known as screw machine parts, the only change required being in the shapes of the dies and the mechanism utilized to make the finished product up to the point of threading if necessary.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention shown the stationary bed of the press is indicated at i and the movable ram or head of the press is shown at 2 which is slidable on vertical rods 3 one of which is shown in Fig. 1. The head or ram 2 of the press is reciprocated in the usual manner of such press mechanisms (not here shown) but it is by movement of this head that operation of my improved screw blank forming mechanism is actuated. The head, as shown, has pivotally connected thereto one end of a link 4 the opposite end being pivotally connected to a lever 5 fixed to a shaft 6. In the position of the parts shown in Fig. 1 the ram is at the bottom of its downstroke and the dotted lines showing the crank 5 and links 4 is the position assumed by these parts at the completion of the upstroke of the ram 2.

' My automatic progressive die is simply mounted between the ram and the bed of the press and this mechanism consists in what I will for convenience call a die set I secured and accurately positioned 'on a base I as by means of the studs 8 of which there are several extending through according to my methdescription of the progressive apertures provided in the flange 9 of the casting carrying the die set. Also, in the base I is placed strips 10 particularly at the forward and the rear ends of the die set and to the ram or head 2 of the press is attached the punch holder base II. This part II extends to one side of the head as shown in Figs. 1 and 6 and is there shaped to receive and slide on the rods 3' secured to the bed of the press. To this punch holder base II is secured the punch set proper indicated at. l2. The die set I and punch set. i2,are accurately fixed in relationship one tothe other so that on each reciprocation of the machine the punches and dies are in a cooperative relation vertically one over the other.

The plan view oft die set is shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. When the sheets containing these figures are laid side by side with Fig. 2 at the left the line. 3--3 of Fig. 2 coincides with the line 3--3 of Fig. 3 and the line L-Iof Fig. 3 coincides with the line 4-4 of Fig. 4. it will be seen that there are in the die set proper forming what is known as a triple die set. Likewise with the sectional views through one of the die sets and including the actuating mechanism as shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, line 8-t on Fig. 7 coincides with the line 8-8 on Fig. 8 and the line 9-9 of Fig. 8 coincides with the similar line 9-9 of Fig. 9, these Figs. 7, 8 and 9 being sections taken on the line .r-a: of Figs. 2, 3 and 4.

As previously stated, the metal stock is fed by movement of the ram causing oscillation of the shaft 6 by the crank 5 and connecting rod or link i. The end portion of the base l in which the shaft 6 is mounted is formed of a series of vertical webs indicated at l3 in Fig. 7 forming a recess M companion to each set of dies and-in each of the recesses M formed between the webs i3 is positioned a rock arm l5 fixed to the shaft 6. 0n the outer end of this rock arm is a roller l6 and this roller, through operation of the ram and shaft 6, plays between an adjustable jaw l1 and a fixed jaw l8 on a rod feeding device indicated generally at iii.

The feeding device it has an upwardly exin the bottom of a movable rod gripping element 23 which carries a lower jaw 24. The shaft 20 is mounted in a'slidable member 25 which is movable on a way 26. A companion rod gripping member 21 secured to the head of the part 25 and between these two parts 24 and 21 extends a rod 28 (shown in Figs. 1 and 3) and through reciprocation of this member through the holding clamps 29 and-39 mounted on the forward end of the bed of the machine. The jaw ll of this feed mechanism is adjustable by means of a screw 3! supported at the outer end of the member l8 and the jaw I1 is slidable relative to the jaw l8, ways 32 being provided therefor and bolts 33 being provided to fix the screw 3| in a nut 34 carried by the jaw l1 and 25 the rod is moved by reason of the elongated holes through which the bolts 33 extend the jaw l'l may be moved toward or from the jaw l8.

In the stroke of the press inthe position shown in Fig. 7, the roller I6 contacts the jaw H and turns the gripping element of the feed mechanism to the left, a limit screw 35 being provided to limit the turning/70f the member l8 on the shaft 20. This movement releases the gripping jaws 24 and 21 on the rod 28. Contact of the roller IS with the jaw I8 turns the roller 2| upwardiy and causes the jaws 24 and 21 to first grip the rodand'then movement of the arm l5 slides the member 25 in' the feeding movement of the'rod.

The clamps 29 and 30 through which the rod is fed may be of any approved type such as a spring clamp that will grip the end of the rod and prevents its pulling backward on the return of the yoke 25 to take a new grip preparatory to a succeeding feeding movement and any tension on the rod by these clamps may be adjusted by means of a nut 36. At the forward end of this latter clamp assembly is a cutoff bushing 31 of tubular form secured in place by a set screw 38. The forward or right hand end of the bushing, shown in Fig. 8, has an aperture of practically the same diameter as the rod passing there-- through and the bushing forms one member of a shear, the other member being a blade 39 which is secured to the punch block H so that, on each complete movement of the head or ram 2 and punch block attached thereto, an end of the rod is out 01f forming a slug. The length of this slug may be varied by varying the stroke of the yoke 25 by the member 18 and crank arms [5 which are adjustable as heretofore stated to adjust the distance through which the yoke 25 is moved in feeding the rod. There is also a means to accurately check the length of the slug which consists of a. stop member 40 which is a bar of L shaped form shown more clearly in plan view in Fig. 3

wherein the inturned end 4| is aligned with the cutoff bushing 31. The distance of this end 4| from the button determines the length of the slug.

The stop bar 40 lies at one side of the clamps 29 and 30 and extends rearwardly or to the left of Figs. '7 and 2 and is supported in a way in the casting 42 which also provides a way for the yoke 25. On this bar is a lug 43 having a threaded aperture for the screw 44 which has a square end 45 for a handle and by this means the bar 40 is adjusted to position the end 4| at the correct distance from the cutoff bushing 31. The bar is held in place by a plate 46 toward its forward end and the screw 44 is stationary and rotatably positioned in a stationary block 4! as will be seen in Fig. 2. I preferably provide a series of calibrations 48 adjacent the edge of the bar with which a mark on the bar may be positioned to determine the exact position of the stop end 4| of the bar.

As will be noted in Fig. 8, the slug 49, when out from the rod stock, falls into a channel 50 formed in the block 5| as shown more clearly in plan view of Fig. 3. This channel bottom is down curved so that the slug 49 slides endwise by gra ity to the vertical dotted position at the bottom of the channel with one plate of the die set. From Figs. 3 and 8 it will be observed that there is a vertically positioned hinged plate 52 associated with the block 5| and held in the closed position by a spring 53 engaging portion 54 on the plate 52 tending to a lever like hold it in the closed position shown in Fig. 3 and.

holding the slug 49 in vertical position as shown Each punch set consists of a set of four end. resting on the face punches in a row indicated at 55, 56, 51 and 58 in Fig. 8 and these are supported by a retainer 59 and a strike plate 50 is provided thereabove and supported by the sub-base l2 of the punch block. This punch set also includes additional elements operable through movement of the punch head in performing the operations required subsequent to the slug passing the last punch of the group as will be hereinafter described.

There is also a series of dies .GI, 62, 63 and 64 supported in the die block I in vertical alignment with the punches and cooperative therewith in the formation of the slug. In the first punch and die station and 6! the slug is pushed down into the die by the punch and is of a character to reduce its diameter to a certain extent less than the final diameter. In the second punch and die arrangement 56 and 62 the body of the blank is finally formed. It is here pointed out that to secure the proper timed relation for each of the operations the formation of the body to final shape is not accomplished by a single stroke of a punch and die which has heretofore been the practice. Such manner would be too slow and exerts too great pressure upon the punch and die and thus this work is allocated to two stepsfirstly, a partial shaping to form and secondly, a final shaping to form of body.

In the first two sets of punches and dies above described the punch is shaped to receive the' end of the slug and partially shape the same and the third one further shapes this end in a manner necessary to provide the desired head. In the punch and die 51 and 63 the head is practically finished in general form and'from this position the nearly finished article is passed to the final sizing punch and die 58 and 64 in v these successive steps in the successive punch and die elements described, a point is roughly formed.

From the sizing punch and die 58 and 54 the blank is moved to the next station which is the final pointing of the partially finished blank and at the last station the final trimming operation .is performed. These two last stations are not punch and die structures as in the other stations and a description of the handling of the blank rind of the mechanism employed at these two stations is given hereinafter but the several stations are identical distances apart and in the transfer of the blanks through the automatic punch and die mechanism and including the pointing and trimming stations once there is a. blank for each of the stations in the machine the entire series of blanks are moved at one time and for convenience in further description of the functions that are performed at each of these stations and of the mechanism employed, I have designated the stations as a, b, c, d, e and f in Figs. 3 and 4.

The mechanism for transferring the blank from its first position in the channel of the holder or block 5! through the several punch and die, pointing and trimming stations is operable by movement of the ram of the press to eifect transfer of the slugs from one station to the next. This mechanism comprises a cam 55 which is attached to the portion ll of the punch set s hown in Fi 9 y means of a bracket 65. This cam memberor bar extends through a slot 61 in 'a table like portion 58 extending from-the delivery end of the die block 1 and this bar carries aside cam 59 on one face thereofasshowninFigsi-i andQanda-lsocanies" a side cam block 10 on the portion of the cam bar 65 riding in an aperture in the table portion 68. The down position of this cam bar 65 is shown in Fig. 9, the up position being shown in Fig. 15 and the intermediate position in Fig. 16. The slug transfer mechanism comprises a slide H positioned at one side of the line of forming stations as will be understood from Fig. 10 and rides in a way provided in the face plate 12 mounted on the die block 1. This plate 12 extends over the stations and receives the upper end of the dies at the separate forming stations on the die block 1 as will be understood from Figs. 8 and 10. The slide carries a secondary slide 13 which is movable relatively longitudinally of the member 1| and is carried with it. A cap plate 14 is provided for the slide member and this plate is recessed to receive the transverse slides 15 each of which, as shown in Figs. 4 and 10, has the gripper arms 15 and 11 pivoted thereto on the pivot pin 18. The free ends of these gripper arms are shaped at 19 to engage the slug when in the closed position shown in Figs. 13 and 14.

The slide 1| 'lso has a groove 80 extending longitudinally thereof and the short arms of the gripper members 16 and 11 have rollers 8| which ride in the groove 80. These slides 13 and 15 are carried by the main slide 1| and move with it in carrying the gripper elements from a rear to a forward station or the reverse as the case may be. That is, the grippers are operated in movement from one station to the next by the slide 1| and are closed and opened by a relative movement of the slide 13. It will be noted from consideration of Figs. 12 and 13 that the grippers in the opening movement are brought away from the station transversely of the direction of movement of the slide 1| and in the closing movement are brought toward the station to position the gripper ends about the slug. When in the open position, the slide is operated by the cam bar 65' to carry these grippers to the left of the position shown in Fig. 3 to position to engage the slug 49 in the hollow block The grippers, which are equal in number to the number of forming stations, are then closed to engage the slug at each station'and the several grippers upon gripping the slug at each forming station (except the, last of the series), the slide is moved to the right of the position shown in Fig. 3 to carry the slug 49 to the first station and the slug in the first station to the next and so on through the entire series of stations. The opening and closing movement of the grippers is performed for each gripping device in which the rollers 83 ride.

The rollers are secured by a pin to the transverse slide 15 carrying the gripper arms. It is to be noted that the angularly disposed slots 82 have the parallel portions 84 and 85 at opposite ends into which the roller 83 rides at the completion of movement in one direction or the other of the slide 13. By such movement of the slide 13 and due to the angular portionof the slot 82, the slide 15 is moved toward or from the station and carries with it the gripper arms the short ends of which have the rollers 8| in the groove 89 of the slide 1|. Movement of the slide 15 at each of the stations toward the stations will therefore cause the grippers to close due to the rollers 8| of the gripper arms riding in the slot 80 and on movemerit of the transverse slide 15 in the opposite by the slide 1| which is provided with angularly disposed slots 82 onedirection causes the gripper arms to open. This operation of the grippers by movement of the transverse slide 15 is caused by movement of the slide 13 relative to the slide 1| and at the completion of movement of the slide 13 in either direction, the rollers 83 of the transverse slides 15 ride into the end portion 84 or 85 of the slot 32 depending upon the duration of movement of the slide 13, and holds the slides 15 from transverse movement in either direction toward or from the respective work station. This peculiar movement of the slide elements, as will be understood from Figs. 9, 15 and 16 is caused by the vertical reciprocation of the cam bar 65 attached to the head It.

On movement from the position shown in Fig. 9 the inclined face '65 of the cam bar engages the inclined face 65 of the aperture of the slide 1| in which the bar is movable. In the position of the parts shown in Fig. 9 the block'til is in the aperture 69 of the slide 13 in which position of the parts and relative position of the slides the grippers are in open position as will be understood from Fig. 4. The cap plate 14 has an aperture 14 of the same length as the aperture 61 in the table extension '68. As this cam bar 65 is raised from this position the cam block 69 carried by the bar '65 is raised out of the aperture 69 of the slide 13 and the inclined edge 65 of the bar 65 engages the inclined face 65* of the aperture of the slide 1|. This upward movement of the bar 65 therefore moves the slides 1| to the left of Fig. 9 which is the position of the parts shown in Fig. 15. Just at the completion of this upward movement .of the bar 65 the inclined face ill of the cam block 1|] engage the inclined edge 69*- of the slide 13 and moves it to the left of the position shown in Fig. 9 causing the gripper arms to close on the slug or blanks at the various forming stations. It is to be noted that the inclined edge 65 of the cam bar 65 has at this time passed entirely above these slides and the slide 1| has completed its movement and thus positions the grippers when in the open position in alignment with'the slug or blank at each of the stations and then this cam block 10 is brought into operation to cause the grippers to engage the slug or blank as shown in Fig. 13.

On downward movement of the cam bar 85 the opposite angular face 65 of the bar 65 engages the face 65 of the slide 1|. This face is of such length and the stroke of the press is such that, in this movement of the bar 65, the entire slide mechanism is moved to the left a distance equal to the distance between forming stations and just as this downward movement is completed, as shown in Fig. 16, the cam block 69 engages the angular face 69? of the slide 13 which moves the slide 13 to the'left and thus theslots 82 are brought to the open position shown in "Fig 12 and the grippers are then held open due and head II to move the grippers to carry the slugs to the stations and as they are positioned at the stations the gripper jaws are released as soon as the blank is held in position by the punch .and die parts as hereinafter described. Thus at each stroke of the press the grippers are actuated 82 until a reverse movement of the slide 13 takes to move to the left in open position and at the 15 die at station a and end of the movement are caused to grip the slug at the block and carry it in vertical position to the first punch and die set 55 and SI as shown in Fig. 8 while the punch is in its upper most position and the blank at each of the forming stations is transferred from a prior station to a succeeding station at the same time as will be understood from the position of the slide 1| in Fig. 9 in contrast with its position shown in Fig. 16. t

It is to be noted that the slide 13, which controls the opening and closing of the grippers, is being actuated to open and move the same away from the station in the position on the cam block 69 in Fig. 16 and this is so timed that the slug 49 of Fig. 3 is set on the die member GI and is engaged at the upper end by the punch 55 before the slug is released by the grippers. Thus at no interval of time is the slug free to become displaced but as the punch engages the upper end of the slug and pressure begins to be exerted to force the same into the die, the grippers are moved out of the way permitting the die to complete its movement. This is the relationship of the parts through all of the punch and die sets 55-6l, 56-62, 51-63, and 58-. Each of these stations are ordinary punch and die sets. The punch at the first station has an aperture to receive the upper end of the slug and this character of aperture changes in the succeeding punches so that the head is formed by the last punch 58 of this series shown in Fig. 8. The companion dies to these portions 55, 56, 5'! and 58 are respectively for the first extrusion, second extrusion, head and partially pointing and sizing. No attempt has been made to shown specific forms of punches and dies in Fig. 8 as the form will vary depending upon the character of part to be produced. The shape of one character of part is shown in Figs. 19, 20, 21 and 22 as being typical.

In Fig. 18 is shown a slug cut from the rod.

Fig. 19 is the form produced in the first forming the dotted lines indicate its variation from the form of the slug of Fig. 18.

Fig. 20 is the form produced by the second forming at station b and its variation in form relative to the slug.

Fig. 21 is the form produced at station c showing the formation of the head and the pointing, the dotted lines indicating the change in shape from the form shown in Fig. 20.

Fig. 22 is the final sizing. the dotted lines showing the reduction in diameter of the body of the blank.

Fig. 23 is the form station e in which the produced at the pointing point is finished as to exterior surface and the cup end finished and final length determined. The dotted lines at the lower end of this figure are used to indicate the work done on the point formed at the preceding station c at which station the point is usually rough particularly at the terminal end and a little long.

Fig. 24 shows the final trimming of the head at station I and the finish of the under side of the head.

From this showing of a single character of blank to be produced, an understanding will be had of the manner of gradual formation of the part in passing through the successive forming stations. It will be seen that at the time of heading by the punch 51 at station c the point is formed as indicated at 81 and shown in Fig. 21. This point is formed by the die 63 and at this station 0 of the series the point is rather rough formed and is not accurate as to length and the coned'facc thereof is not smooth but corresponds practically completely with the character of the points made in the usual single purpose machines from which machine the blank is left in this rather rough finished state of point. It is also to be noted that these punch and die sets may alter in form as may be required for the making of any of the shapes of blanks that may be desired. In any event, whatever the specific form of the bolt, stud, screw blank or the like being made, the form gradually changes from one station to the next through these successive forming stations a, b, c, d, e and f. The pointing station, which is the station e, is not strictly a punch and die operation although the mechanism is operated in the same manner by a stroke of the ram and the mechanism is shown more clearly in Figs. 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14. In the plan views Figs. 12, 13 and 14 is shown a rotatable disc 88 having four blank receiving notches 89 in its periphery. This disc, as shown in section Figs. and 11, is comparatively thin and is supported on an arm 90 by means of the screw 9|, the disc having a central aperture and being rotatable on the screw and positioned by the spring-pressed ball 92 which engages recesses in the under side of the disc 88 as shown in Fig. 11.

There are eight such ball recesses, one for each of the notches 89 and one between each of the notches of the disc and the ball seats in a recess when a notch 89 with a blank therein has been turned to the position shown in Fig. 13 in which the blank is indicated at 93 and also seats in a recess when the disc is in the position to recei a blank as indicated in 13g, 14.

These blanks, as before stated, are moved from station to station in shown in end view in Figs. 12, 13 and 14. In the position of the parts shown in Fig. 14 the grippers I6 and H for handling the blank have moved the blank from the station it andthe disc is so positioned and releasably held by the ball 92 that the blank 93 enters the notch 89 in the disc as shown in Fig. 14. This is an intermediate position of the grippers in movement from station to station and by further movement of the grippers by the slides heretofore described and due to the blank 93 being in the notch 89, the disc is rotatedby means of the grippers and blank from the position shown in Fig. 13 to the position shown in Fig. 14 by movement of the blank transferring mechanism to the right of these Figures 13 and 14. On completion of this movement a blank is positioned at each of the forming stations. The position of the angular slots 32 in the slide 13 and of the roller 83 therein is shown in these Figs. 13 and 14. The grippers are then required to open which is accomplished by movement to the right of the slide 13 and the roller 83 of the gripper slide is thus changed in its position in the slot to the position shown in Fig. 12 thereby opening the grippers" and 11 in the manner heretofore described. Thus the grippers have moved away from the disc and have opened.

At the time the blank is positioned in the disc the head is at the upper side of the disc and the bottom end is just out of contact with the surface of the plate 12 and the position of the cam block 69 in respect to the stroke of that the grippers are not released from the blank until the blank has been taken charge of by the pointing apparatus shown in section in Fig. 9, and this consists of a reciprocable member comprising a spring-pressed tube 94 riding in a stationarlly supported tube 95 carried by the head ll of the vertical position and are .the ram is such has been finished, the arm contact with the disc supporting arm 90 which end of this tube 94 is a block 96 against which the coil spring 91 seats. The tube 94 is restricted in its longitudinal movement by means of a slot 98 in its side in which is engaged a block 99 on the stationary tube 95. On the down movement of the head II, as shown in Fig. 9, this tube is in its uppermost position and as the head is moved upwardly from this position the tube 94 and the block 98 are held stationary in position by the spring until the block 99 reaches the upper end of the slot 98 whereupon the tube 94 and the block 96 are carried upwardly. n the bottom end of the tube 94 is an arm I00 which arm is shown in Fig. 11 as engageable with the arm 90 carrying the disc 88. The arm 90 in Fig. 11 is in its down position in a recess IOI in the plate 12 and has a tubular extension I02 riding in an aperture I03 of the holder I03 secured in the die block 'I by a set screw wit In the aperture of the tubular portion I02 is a spring I04 is positioned about the lower end of the bolt beneath the lower end of the tubular portion I02 tending to raise the member 90 from the position shown in Fig. 11.

The arm I00 on the sliding tube 94, when in the uppermost position, is out of contact with the arm 90 and as it comes toward the position shown in Fig. 9, av spring-pressed member I05 engages the head of the blank in a notch 89 of the disc 88 and just as this tube 94 and arm I00 have completed the downstroke the head of the blank is contacted and the disc and arm moved to the position shown in Fig. 11 which movement forces the end of the blank through an aperture I06 in a receiver thimble I0'I in which the upper end I08 of the rotary cutting pointer is positioned. This cutter is shown more fully in Fig. 10 wherein it is seen that the point I09 finishes the pointed end of the blank 93 and also finishes the cupped face of the point. This cutter runs at a high speed and may be driven by a shaft H0 mounted in the portion I of the die set. There is a shaft H0 for each of the three series of punch and die sets which extend to the right hand side of Fig- 9 and there each shaft is provided with a pulley III. be driven by an electric motor H2 by means of belts. Each of the shafts 0 have a beveled gear H3 thereon meshing with a beveled gear H4 on the lower end of the cutter driving shaft H5.

As indicated in Fig. 10, there isan angularly disposed aperture H6 opening at the side of the aperture of the block I in which the cutter is positioned. The chips formed by the cutter in finish pointing of the blank are delivered from the machine through this aperture H6.

Just prior-to completion of the next upstroke of the head by the ram and after the pointing I00 is raised out of releases the said arm to upward movement by the spring I04. This brings the blank again to position with the lower end just above the surface of the plate 12 and the last pair of grippers at the right of Fig. 12 may be then moved to the position shown in Fig. 13 to grip the blank and move the blank 93 to the last station f of the Series of stations. In so doing, the disc is turned forty five degrees from the position in Fig. 13 to the position shown in Fig.- 14 and theblank 93, as shown in Fig. 14, is being carried to the last station which is the head trimming station and, in this movement, the disc'88 has been positioned with the notch 89 to receive the blank from the statonary headed bolt I04 and a These pulleys, as shown in Fig. 1, may.

in the last station vided the usual station 6. The spring-pressed ball 92 simply is a resistance preventing rotative displacement of the disc 88 and there are eight ball recesses for the ball 92, that is, there is a ball recess for each position of rest of the disc 88. One of those positions is shown in Fig. 14 at the bottom left side and this notch 89 is then moved to the position in Fig. 13 at which time the ball seats in a respective ball recess. Thus there are two ball recesses for each notch in the disc.

The last station of the series is the final head trimming station and its function is performed by the movement of the ram of the press and head as is the case with the operation of the forming means at each of the other stations. At this last station I a block III is attached to the punch head II and I2 which block has a central aperture H8 which extends upward through the flange of the portion of the punch head I2 and a tube H9 is secured in the punch head portion II. On the lower end of the member II! is the head-trimming die I held by a gripper sleeve HI and the blank in being passed from the disc of the station 2 to this last station I is placed with its lower end directly over a tubular stem I22. As the die I20 is carried downward by movement of the head it engages the head of the blank until it seats upon the upper end of this tube I22 and the head of the blank is then trimmed. to desired peripheral shape by the die I20, the cuttings passing down through a sluiceway I23 provided on the base portion I in which the tube I22 is mounted. The stem I22 is secured in place by a block I24 held in place by a screw I25 which also holds a guide block I28 for a rod I2'I spring-pressed upwardly and tending by its spring I20 to move the blank. 93 upward out of the stem. 0n the next trimming stroke the blank is forced up out of the die into the hollow portion H8 of the block H1 and thence through the tube H9 and as each successive blank is moved upwardly therein the blanks are delivered to wherever the upper end of the tube may lead.

The blank 93 has its body in finished state at this time and therefore is not a particularly close fit in the hollow stem I22 and may be readily moved outwardly by the pressure of the spring Thus at the pointing station the lower pointed end of the blank (if a point is to be formed) is finished as to length from the under side of the head which rests on the disc 88 and the head itself is trimmed to final shape as the trimming of the head is not performed until the blank has been seated in the stem to support the same against the pressure of the head thereon. It is so trimmed that it can pass upwardly out of the die and into the tubular 'recess H8 wherein it is sufficiently free as not Thus at the station e the blank is freed from the cutter assembly by the disc and in station I by the pin I21 which acts as a knock-out pin. In the stations a, b, c and d there is propunch press knock-out pins I28 which are similar at each station and are carried by rods I29 which project through the base I of the die set into engagement with a knock-out plate I30 in the bed I of the press which operates similarly to any of the usual knock-out plates for presses of this character functioning as the ram moves upwardly and prior to the finish of the upstroke. As this is common mechanism utilized with presses in general use, nomechanism is here shown for operation of ,the plate to stick.

0. One of the important features of this invenis a departure from the said stations a and b.

tion is the use of a final sizing die at station 41. This will be understood from the following:

The first two stations a and b are what have been termed the first and second forming stalions and in these two dies the body form at least is oversize in diameter. Firstly, so that sufficient stock at station b will be left for the final sizing at station d. Secondly, by'use of a final sizing die at station it subsequent to the formation of the head at station 0 the two forming dies at stations 11 and b will last for a very much longer period than if the stock is sized at The first and second forming dies wear rapidly to beyond the oversize limits and thus only about fifteen to twenty thousand parts can be made before the dies have to be changed but, due to the use of a final sizing die in the lineup herein described atstation d, any error'in the dies 11 and b as to diameter is corrected and inasmuch as the error is only slightly oversize, the work to be performed at station 41 is materially less apt to wear the die at station d. Thus it retains its proper size over a long period of time so that a million or more parts can be made with this allocation of the work at the successive stations and particularly the final sizing at station d without change of dies. use of a final sizing die at and b may wear considerably oversize without detriment. This step of final sizing subsequent -to formation of the blank known practice.

formed of a tungsten-carbide composition to sesure extreme hardness, the cost of which is somewhere between $75.00 and $100.00 each, it is important to retain these dies in'operation for as long a period as is possible.

The second important feature and departure from known practice is the pointing mechanism at station 2. At this station is used a notched which the blank is brought by the transfer mechanism heretofore described and positions the same over the member I01 in Fig. 10 apertured to receive the end of the blank 93. At the time the blank is positioned in the disc it is in its upper position, it is held in this up position by the spring I04 heretofore described acting on the stem I02. At this time the lower engaging the heads of the blanks at the prior stations of the series. This movement therefore forces the lower end of the blank 93 to the cutting position as shown in Fig. 10 before the punches have really begun to perform their work at the prior. stations.

As the punches come to charge of the blanks at the prior stations, the cylinder 95 simply moves down over the tube 94 compressing'the spring 91 and as the punches have finished their movement in forcing the blanks into the dies of the preceding'stations and the head II and ram 2 of the press again move upwardly, the knock-out pins of the prior their position taking stations start to remove the blanks from the dies but the tube 8.4 is still held in place by the spring 91 and holds the blank 93 at this pointing station in place until the block 99 reaches the top of the slot 98 of the tube 94 and carries the tube 94 upwardly. The spring I04 then moves the arm 90 and the notched disc 88 upwardly a slight distance as is permitted by the recess I90, the bottom of which will engage the head |9l of the retainer bolt HM. By this means a dwell in the period of time the blank remains in this station is secured and the pointing and length trimming step is properly performed with the time period for the movement of the head for the punch and die operation. This mechanism is used in such cases where a nicely pointed blank is required and in such cases where the rough form of the point by the die is satisfactory, this pointing station may be dispensed with.

The foregoing description has been largely cor1- fined to the use of rod stock which is not drawn to exact diameter. -Screw blanks, bolts, studs and the like can be formed in this machine from wire stock wherein the wire is previously drawn to a finished diameter. It then passes to the dies and is headed and formed and finally sized and the head trimmed in the same manner as herein disclosed for rod stock. By use of the wire stock, one or more of the forming stations herein described could be dispensed with but the method and mechanism are 4 restricted to use with rod stock and the appended stock may be fed into the machine and that the die and upon the blank through the normal movement of the ram of the press and that these die and trimming mechanisms of each of the stations may be made of the desired or necessary shapes to form the desired blank and size of the blank, the stock being fed being of approximate diameter required to make the blank in each instance.

By forming the blanks of the ordinary rod stock I avoid the higher cost of use of what is own as wire stock which has been drawn to size and I have also avoided oiling of the blanks or the stock asit passes into the machine as is the general practice with the present day single purpose machines. All of the operations are performed through or by means of reciprocation of the ram in the ordinary manner of the punch and die operations and the work is so allocated at each of the stations that the time required for each step is approximately that required for each of the other steps. The extruding operation for instance is performed by these dies, a first and second extrusion and the final sizing. The work performed by the die sets is reduced over that required inthe extrusion longer life is secured and the time of operation is fer mechanism from the time the slug is out until it is discharged from the machine is all automatically performed, the slug or blank being passed from station to station progressively through the at one step and thus a- 

